Robert’s Shocking Return to Emmerdale: What’s Next for Aaron and the Village?
In a dramatic turn of events, Robert, a familiar face in the village of Emmerdale, has returned after a six-year absence. The surprise comeback has left fans wondering what this means for Aaron, who has recently found love with John. According to Ryan Hawley, who plays Robert, the storyline is set to be a major talking point in the coming episodes.
Speaking exclusively to ITV’s Emmerdale, Hawley revealed that Robert’s return is a significant development in the show. "Robert’s back after six years! And a lot has happened during this time in the village and for Robert. Two very different worlds, the village and Robert’s reality in prison. And out of the blue, just in the nick of time, Robert turns up at Aaron’s wedding to John," he explained.
The sudden arrival of Robert presents a massive dilemma for Aaron, who must now navigate his feelings for John and his past love, Robert. Hawley teased that the next few episodes will be packed with drama and conflict, as Aaron struggles to make a decision. "It’s a fantastic few episodes to finish off the wedding week, which shows how the incident of Robert turning up will resolve itself. It’s a massive dilemma for Aaron, who’s found John as a new love in his life and then he’s got Robert, who used to be the love of his life, turn up! He’s got a massive decision to make. I guess all the weight is on Aaron’s shoulders. What’s Robert doing there, has he got ulterior motives, does he know something about John? How has he even found out that this wedding was taking place? There’s a lot to unpick and so much to be revealed over the next few nights. It’s a great few episodes and I’m really excited to see them," Hawley said.
As fans speculate about Robert’s return, one question remains: is Robert back for good? Hawley remained tight-lipped, but hinted that Robert’s comeback is more than just a one-off appearance. "Well, Ryan is back, but Robert is still technically in prison, so we shall have to wait and see how that works out!" he said.
Hawley also opened up about his experience returning to the Emmerdale cast. "Rejoining the cast of Emmerdale feels fantastic. I’ve been having so much fun being back here. Oddly, more fun than I thought it was going to be, in a good way. We’ve been filming some great stuff, there’s a lot more to Robert’s return than just the value of opening the door. I’ve been having so much fun, everyone’s been lovely, and there are a lot of familiar faces and loads of really positive energy about the place. There’s lots of drama, lots of conflict. There’s the dilemma for Aaron and John and also his return affects so many other people in the village."
The secrecy surrounding Hawley’s return was also revealed, with the actor explaining that he was given a code name, "Marco", to keep his comeback under wraps. "Yes, we have been really trying to keep the fact I’m back under wraps for the viewers. I was given a code name of ‘Marco’, in fact, I think everyone’s sick of hearing the name Marco. I’ve been using a secret entrance to get into the building and I’ve had a driver picking me up from my house and driving me to Emmerdale. Plus, most of my scenes have even been scheduled in the village so that I wouldn’t run the risk of bumping into people and it getting out. There’s so much effort that’s gone into it. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t tell my family or friends. Just fairly recently, I said, ‘it’s Ryan, I play Robert’ and the security guard said ‘what’s your code name.’ I said, ‘Marco.’ And then he let me in!"
As the drama unfolds, fans can expect to see Robert’s return have a significant impact on the village. Hawley concluded, "I can’t wait for the audience’s reaction, I hope some of them are shocked to see him." With ITV’s Emmerdale continuing to deliver captivating storylines, viewers can tune in to see what’s next for Robert and the residents of Emmerdale. Watch Emmerdale on ITVX to stay up-to-date with the latest developments.
The return of Robert marks a significant moment in the show’s history, and fans are eagerly anticipating what’s to come. As ITV’s Emmerdale continues to captivate audiences, one thing is certain: Robert’s comeback is set to be a major talking point in the world of Emmerdale.
The exclusive interview with Ryan Hawley was provided by ITV’s Emmerdale.
